Mr. Bernard Gloster:

The first step to progress, whatever the number is, is that this year we are aiming to convert almost 1,000 of those agency staff. We are aiming for 416 in nursing for safe staffing levels and 500 for general conversion. I hope, with the agreement of my colleagues in the Department, to allocate those out to the regions next week. That is the second part of the pay and numbers strategy. Once we allocate those and convert those, we will then be able to arrive at the more sensible cap and control we need for future use of agency staffing.

Whether or not coming into next year the additional new developments will allow us to convert further is obviously a matter for the budget day announcement. This year, we are targeting to commence the conversion of just under a thousand.